Cyclone Murasu inflicts ₹500 crore damage to Andhra Pradesh power infrastructure

Cyclone Murasu has dealt a severe blow to Andhra Pradesh's power sector, resulting in losses exceeding ₹500 crore, according to state Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar. The cyclone caused extensive damage across the distribution network, with more than 7,500 power poles uprooted or damaged by the severe weather conditions.

The widespread destruction has disrupted electricity supply across multiple districts in the state, affecting both urban and rural areas dependent on the grid. The damage to critical power infrastructure has necessitated a massive restoration operation involving hundreds of field teams and substantial logistical resources.

State authorities have prioritized rapid rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure. Minister Ravi Kumar stated that restoration work is progressing at an accelerated pace, with officials targeting completion of major repairs by Saturday evening. However, the scale of damage suggests that full normalization of power supply in all affected areas may take additional time beyond the initial deadline.

The cyclone adds to the growing burden of climate-related infrastructure damage faced by southern states, raising concerns about the resilience of critical utilities in the face of increasingly severe weather events. The incident underscores the vulnerability of the region's power distribution network to extreme weather and highlights the need for strengthened infrastructure planning.